William fitzgerald



(No Model.) 9

W. FITZGERALD. UNDERTAKERS TBIMMING TABLE.

No. 525,979. Patented Sept. 11, 1894.

Wi'lgesszs UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

WILLIAM FITZGERALD, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OLIVER 'N. MOWRER, OF SAME PLACE.

UNDERTAKERS TRlMMlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,979, dated September 11, 1894. Application filed November 2, 1893- Serial No. 489,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FITZGERALD. a citizen of the United States, residing at Mar- Ion, in the county of Grant andState of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Undertakers Trimming-Table, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are the production of a convenient stand ortable designed to support in various positions caskets duringthe application of the trimmings thereto, both to the interior and to the exterior; and to provide means for readily adjusting or changing the positions of the said casket, whereby access thereto may be conveniently had; and, finally, to provide means for convenlently attaching or securing the casket to the table.

Other objects and ad vantages of the invention will appear in the following description,

and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, a casket belng in position thereon. Fig. 3 are details of the securing screw and Washers. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the standards. Fig. 5 is a 0 detail of the table.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention, I employ, preferably, two opposite standards 1, which, 5 when viewed in elevation, are of inverted U- shape in that they comprise the opposite legs or terminals 2, and the upper semi-circular ends or heads 3. These terminals are connected by transverse cross bars 4, and each 1s provided at its inner side below the crossbars with rest-lugs 5. It will, of course, be understood that the standards may be of other than inverted U-shape, though it is deslrable that they should be provided at their 7 5 upper endswith semi-circularheads 3. Braces 6 may be secured to the floor or other support and to the exteriors of the cross-bars 4.. The semi-circular ends or heads 3 are also provided with a concentrically arranged series of perforations 7. The table 8 is of such length as to extend over and beyond the standards and rest upon the upper surfaces of the semicircular heads, and is provided upon its under side at each side of its longitudinal center with transversely-disposed depending hangers or arms 9, the same, in the presentinstance, being of V-shape. These hangers or arms at their lower or angle ends are, through the medium of bearing pins 10, pivoted or journaled to the inner sides of the cross-bars 4 concentrically with relation to the upper semi-cylindrical ends of the standards and the series of perforations therein, while the upper ends thereof are secured to the under side of the table contiguous to the 6 side edges thereof. Through one or both of the standards spring-pressed locking pins 11 are passed, the same being designed at their outer ends to engage with the aforesaid perforations in the standards and thus lock the table at any desired inclination or angle. When the table is at its lowest position at either side of the framework, it will, of course, rest upon the lugs 5.

- Various means may be provided forconveu-- 7 5 iently attaching the casket to the table, and

'I have illustrated a preferred means, in which the table is provided at its center with a perforation 12 which may be formed with an ordinary auger or gimlet, and in this perforation is arranged a bolt 13 which, below the table, is engaged by a binding-nut 15. The bolt terminates at its upper end in a conical head 16, I which is elliptical or elongated in cross-section. In connection with this bolt I employ 8 a split or divided washer 17, comprising two concavo-convex semi-conical sections which are designed to be placed in a suitable bored perforation in the bottom of a casket, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive the pressure of the o head of the bolt and prevent such pressure from breaking down or otherwise injuring the sides of said perforation. The major diameter of the head of the bolt is preferably arranged parallel with the grain of the wood 5 forming, the bottomof the casket, and the washer sections are arranged with their middle at the terminals of such major diameter,

or at the ends of the head, whereby as the bolt is tightened by means of the binding-nut [00 the expansion produced by the conical head is in the direction of the grain of the material, thus avoiding the splitting of the botto m of the casket. I also provide the upper side of the table with small spurs 18 which engage the bottom of the casket and aid the fastening bolt by preventing the casket from turning thereon as a center. It now simply remains to run the binding nut up upon the bolt, thereby drawing the head thereof snugly down into the washers and clamping the bottom of the casket to the table.

Relative to the function of the conical bolt head 16, and the divided washer 17, fitting the same, it is to be noted at this point that in attaching a casket to the table 8, a three quarter inch or other suitable size hole is bored in the bottom of the casket so as to align with the bolt opening or perforation 12, in the said table, and the hole that is bored in the bottom of the casket is of a size to admit of the insertion of the head 10, of the bolt thereth rough. After boring the hole in the bottom of the easket, the latter is placed on the table 8, and the bolt properly positioned to bring the head 16, thereof in the opening in the bottom of the casket, and the divided or split washer 17, is also fitted on the head 16, within the casket opening. The binding nut is then placed on the bolt and tightened. As the said binding nut is tightened the bolt is drawn down and the conical head 16, of said bolt will be drawn tightly down in the splitwasher, causing the two sections thereof to spread apart within the bottom opening of the casket, and the tighter the boltis drawn by the said binding nut the more firmly the casket will become fastened to the table. It has already been noted that the head 16, is also elliptical or elongated in cross section so that the greater portion of the strain incident to the drawing down of the bolt will be distributed parallel with the grain of the wood forming the bottom of the casket so as to prevent the same from splitting.

After the casket trimming is completed, the binding nut is loosened and the bolt 13 slightly driven back to release its hold on the split washer so that such washer may be slid down on the bolt and out of the opening in the bottom of the casket, whereby the casket may be lifted directly off of the table without entirely removing the bolt, and although I have not illustrated the two sections of the washer as held together on the bolt, it will be understood that an ordinary elastic band may be made to encircle the same so that they will readily slip otf of the conical head of the bolt and down onto the shank of the bolt when the latter is loosened up out of the opening in the bottom of the casket.

In the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen thatI have provided a very simple stand or table for the support of caskets during the trimming of the same. It will be seen that the table may be swung to either side to its lowest positions permitting of the application of the handles and external ornaments, and also swung to a vertical position or any intermediate point to permit of the application of the lining, puffs, (KEG.

I do not limit my invention to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, but hold that I may vary the same to such a degree and extent as may lie within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic.

Having described my invention, what I claim is In an undertakers trimming table, the combination with an adjustable table provided with a central bolt opening or perforation and short spurs projecting upwardly therefrom; of a clamping bolt arranged to fit in the bolt opening or perforation of the table, and a similar opening or perforation in the bottom of a casket, said bolt being provided at its upper end with a conical and horizontally el liptical head adapted to have the longest diameter thereof disposed in the direction of the grain of the material of the casket, a split washer comprising duplicate semi-conical sections conforming with the shape of the bolt head and arranged with their middle at the terminals of the longest diameter of the bolt head, and a binding nut adapted to engage the lower end of the bolt below the table, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM FITZGERALD.

\Vitnesses:

EUGENE L. CoLn, OLIVER N. Mownnn. 

